Event dosimeter device and methods thereof

ABSTRACT

A method including a dosimetry device having at least one sensor in a housing and a dosimetry processing device with a memory. The dosimtery processing device is coupled to the at least one sensor in the housing. The dosimetry processing device is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory comprising: obtaining readings from the sensor; storing the readings; conducting an analysis of the stored readings to determine an injury risk assessment; and outputting at least one of the conducted analysis of the determined injury risk assessment or the stored readings.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.13/371,183 filed Feb. 10, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/446,382 filed Feb. 24, 2011,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

This invention was made with government support under contract no.HR0011-10-C-0095 awarded by the DARPA. The government has certain rightsin the invention.

BACKGROUND

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) from an explosive blast remains asignificant problem for military personnel, especially those involved incounter insurgency operations. Mild to moderate TBI may be difficult todetect immediately post event, with cognitive or motor deficitsmanifesting weeks or months post event.

Currently, there is no widely deployed system to dose the exposure toexplosive blast. Given the nature of TBI, the wide variability inexplosions and physical configurations during a blast, and variabilityin human response to each blast, a widely deployed system to allpersonnel in a theater is needed to build a database of sufficient sizeto allow real-time dosimeter data to be used for triage.

SUMMARY

A dosimetry device includes at least one sensor in a housing and adosimetry processing device with a memory. The dosimtery processingdevice is coupled to the at least one sensor in the housing. Thedosimetry processing device is configured to execute programmedinstructions stored in the memory comprising: obtaining readings fromthe at least one sensor; storing the readings; conducting an analysis ofthe stored readings to determine an injury risk assessment andoutputting at least one of the stored readings or the conducted analysisof the determined injury risk assessment.

A method for using at least one dosimetry device includes securing atleast one dosimetry device to one or more different locations on anobject. The dosimetry device includes a dosimetry processing device witha memory coupled to at least one sensor in a housing. The dosimetryprocessing device obtains readings from the at least one sensor andstores the readings. The dosimetry processing device conducts ananalysis of the stored readings to determine an injury risk assessmentand outputs at least one of the stored readings or the conductedanalysis of the determined injury risk assessment.

A dosimetry device includes at least one sensor in a housing, a globalpositioning device coupled to the dosimetry processing device, and adosimetry processing device with a memory. The dosimetry processingdevice is coupled to the at least one sensor and the global positioningdevice in the housing. The dosimetry processing device is configured toexecute programmed instructions stored in the memory comprising:obtaining readings from the at least one sensor; storing the readings;storing location data from the global positioning device with theobtained readings; and outputting the stored readings and the locationdata.

A method for using at least one dosimetry device includes securing atleast one dosimetry device to one or more different locations on anobject. The dosimetry device includes a dosimetry processing device witha memory coupled to at least one sensor in a housing. The dosimetrydevice obtains readings from the sensor, stores location data from theglobal positioning device with the obtained readings, and outputs thestored readings and the location data.

This technology provides a number of advantages including providing amore effective and efficient event monitoring dosimetry apparatus. Withthis technology, event data from an explosion, blast, blow or otherevent can be captured and utilized to provide real time information onobtained readings and/or conducted analyses with or without locationdata. The analyses can include determination of an injury riskassessment that can be used for triage. Additionally, this technologycan capture and provide event data that will help to provide a betterunderstanding the mechanisms of traumatic and other brain injuriesresulting from an explosion, blast, blow or other event

This technology can be used in a variety of different applications, suchas for the military, sporting activities, and other daily activities byway of example only. For military applications, this technology could behelmet mounted, helmet strap mounted, worn on the torso, mounted withinvehicle cabins, on vehicle exteriors, and/or on buildings by way ofexample only. For sporting activities, this technology could be mountedwithin helmets, helmet straps, headbands, caps, and/or on uniforms byway of example only. For daily activities, this could be mounted tohelmets used for bicycles and motorcycles by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary event monitoring dosimetryapparatus; and

FIG. 2 is an exemplary method for monitoring events with the exemplaryevent monitoring dosimetry apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary event monitoring dosimetry apparatus 10 is illustrated inFIG. 1-. The event monitoring dosimetry apparatus 10 includes a housingassembly 11 with a dosimetry processing device 12 with a memory 14, aninterface device 16, a pressure sensor 18, an inertial monitoring unit22, a power system 30, a global positioning system 31, an engagementdevice 32, and display 34, although the apparatus 10 could include othertypes and numbers of systems, devices, components and elements in otherconfigurations. This technology provides a number of advantagesincluding provide a more effective and efficient event monitoringdosimetry apparatus.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, the dosimetry processing device12 comprises one or more processors internally coupled to the memory 14,although other numbers and types of systems, devices, components, andelements in other configurations and locations can be used. The one ormore processors in the dosimetry processing device 12 executes a programof stored instructions for one or more aspects of the present technologyas described and illustrated by way of the examples herein, althoughother types and numbers of processing devices and logic could be usedand the processor could execute other numbers and types of programmedinstructions. A variety of different types of processors can be used.

The memory 14 in the dosimetry processing device 12 stores theseprogrammed instructions for one or more aspects of the presenttechnology as described and illustrated herein, although some or all ofthe programmed instructions could be stored and executed elsewhere. Avariety of different types of memory storage devices, that are coupledto the one or more processors in the dosimetry processing device 12, canbe used for the memory 14 in the dosimetry processing device 12, such asa solid state memory by way of example. The flow chart shown in FIG. 2is representative of example steps or actions of this technology thatmay be embodied or expressed as one or more non-transitory computer ormachine readable instructions stored in memory 14 that may be executedby the one or more processors.

The interface device 16 in the dosimetry processing device 12 is used tooperatively couple and communicate between the dosimetry processingdevice 12 and one or more external computing or storage devices,although other types and numbers of communication networks or systemswith other types and numbers of connections and configurations can beused. In this example, the interface device 16 is a USB port, althoughother types and numbers of hard wired or wireless interfaces can beutilized.

Although an example of the dosimetry processing device 12 is describedherein, it can be implemented on any suitable computer system orcomputing device. It is to be understood that the devices and systems ofthe examples described herein are for exemplary purposes, as manyvariations of the specific hardware and software used to implement theexamples are possible, as will be appreciated by those skilled in therelevant art(s).

Furthermore, the system of the examples may be conveniently implementedusing one or more general purpose computer systems, microprocessors,digital signal processors, and micro-controllers, programmed accordingto the teachings of the examples, as described and illustrated herein,and as will be appreciated by those ordinary skill in the art.

The examples may also be embodied as a non-transitory computer readablemedium having instructions stored thereon for one or more aspects of thepresent technology as described and illustrated by way of the examplesherein, as described herein, which when executed by a processor, causethe processor to carry out the steps necessary to implement the methodsof the examples, as described and illustrated herein.

The pressure sensor 18 is coupled to the dosimetry processing device 12,although the pressures sensor 18 could be coupled to other types andnumbers of devices. In this example, the pressure sensor 18 is a singlepressure sensor, although other types and numbers of pressure sensorscould be used.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the inertial monitoring unit 22 is a low-g(for example <16 g) three-axis accelerometer to capture linearacceleration in three axes, although other types such as a high-g (forexample >100 g) and numbers of inertial measurement units could be usedin other combinations. For example, the inertial measurement unit 22could be a higher-g accelerometer or a gyroscope which recordsrotational acceleration.

The power system 30 includes a battery 36 coupled between a regulator 38and an energy harvester device 40, although other types of power systemswith other types and numbers of components, such as one without anenergy harvester and/or without a regulator 38 could be used. In thisexample, the battery 36 is non-rechargeable and non-user replaceable sothe dosimetry apparatus is designed to be disposable by way of exampleonly, although other types of batteries can be used, such as auser-replaceable and rechargeable batteries. With this exemplarydisposable design and the associated lower cost, multiple dosimetryapparatuses 10 may be utilized on each person which improves the qualityof the collected data and the resulting injury risk assessments.Additionally, with this disposable design for this example of thedosimetry apparatus it is easier to incorporate design changes andupdate algorithms as the dosimetry apparatus is rolled out for productshipments. As a result, with this exemplary design the latest versionalways is being delivered out to customers in the field, whiletraditional (non-disposable) systems would have to somehow incorporatean upgrade. The regulator 38 is coupled to regulate power provided bythe battery 36 to the dosimetry processing device 12. The energyharvester device 40, such as solar or vibration energy device by way ofexample only, can be used to supply power to the system and/or rechargethe battery 36, although other types and numbers of energy harvesterdevices could be used.

An optional global position system (GPS) 31 is coupled to the dosimetryprocessing device 12 to provide location data for the dosimetryapparatus which can be correlated with and stored with the obtainedsensor readings, although other types and numbers of locationdetermination systems could be used.

The engagement device 32 is coupled to the dosimetry processing device12, although the engagement device could be coupled in other manners andother types and numbers of engagement devices, such as a button, couldbe used. The engagement device 32 can be used to request an output ofreadings including of identified events and analyses of the readings toprovide immediate triage. Additionally, other types and numbers ofmechanisms for engaging the dosimetry processing device 12 can be used.

The display device 34 is used to provide a status indication for theoutput stored readings and/or of the analysis of the stored readingsassociated with identified events to provide immediate triage of theseverity of an event, although other types and numbers of displays whichprovide other types of outputs can be used.

Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary method for monitoring events with theexemplary event monitoring dosimetry apparatus will now be described. Atstep 100, at least one dosimetry apparatus 10 is secured to a locationon an object, although other manners for securing the one or moredosimetry apparatuses 10 to the object can be used, such as detachablesecuring can be used.

In step 102, the dosimetry processing device in the dosimetry apparatus10 obtains readings from the at least one of the pressure sensor 18 orthe inertial measurement unit 22, although the dosimetry apparatus 10can obtain readings from both as well as from other types and numbers ofsensors. In this example, the pressure sensor 18 is a single pressuresensor which obtains pressure readings. Additionally, in this example,the inertial measurement unit 22 is a three-axis accelerometer whichobtains linear acceleration readings in real time, although other typesof inertial measurement units can be used, such as a gyroscope whichobtains rotational acceleration readings.

In step 104, the dosimetry processing device 12 optionally may obtainlocation data from the global positioning system 31 which is correlatedwith the obtained sensor readings, although other types of positionalinformation could be obtained.

In step 106, the dosimetry processing device 12 stores the obtainedpressure readings from the pressure sensor 18 and/or accelerationreadings from the inertial measurement unit 22 with the location datafrom the global positioning device 31 (if obtained) in memory 14,although other types and amounts of readings and other data could bestored in other locations and manners. For example, the dosimetryprocessing device 12 may select a smaller subset of the information,such as portions of the obtained pressure readings from the pressuresensor 18, the acceleration readings from the inertial measurement unit22, and/or the location data from the global positioning device 31 forstorage. Additionally, the global positioning device 31 also may becoupled to an emergency beacon or other transmitter or transceiver 32 inthe dosimetry apparatus 10 that provides a coded or other data report toa designated device or other system about a blast or other exposureevent, such as blast location and severity for an entity with thedosimetry apparatus 10.

In step 108, the dosimetry processing device 12 also may conduct a realtime analysis of the obtained pressure and/or acceleration readings todetermine an injury risk assessment based on the conducted analysis,although other types and numbers of analyses based on other types andnumbers of sensors can be performed, such as conducing the injury riskassessment based on obtained readings from multiple sensors. In thisexample, the obtained readings may be compared by the dosimetryprocessing device 12 against stored tables of threshold readings inmemory 14 to identify when one or more of the obtained readings areabove the corresponding stored threshold reading in the table toidentify an event. Additionally, the dosimetry processing device 12conduct an analysis of the severity of the event based on an amount theone or more of the obtained readings are above the corresponding storedthreshold reading in the table, although other manners for conducting ananalysis can be used. The dosimetry processing device 12 stores theconducted analysis in memory 14, although the conducted analyses can bestored in other locations and manners and other types of processing ofthe conducted analyses and data could be executed. For example, thedosimetry processing device 12 may utilize captured readings andconducted analyses associated with particular individuals to tailor andadjust criteria and thresholds for each of these individuals, based onhistorical medical data, such as individual medical history data,individual injury historical data, or historical group medical data,such as readings and resulting assessments obtained by other dosimetryapparatuses 10 over a period of time, by way of example only. Thecriteria, thresholds and other metrics could be automatically adjustedby the dosimetry processing device 12 based on the data obtained above,although other manners for making these adjustments could be made, suchas presenting a GUI to an operator to enter adjustments.

In step 110, the dosimetry processing device 12 determines whether anoutput is requested, such as by activation of the engagement device 32or a request via the interface 16, such as a USB, from another computingdevice, although other manners for output requests could be used. Theactivating of the engagement device could trigger a display on displaydevice 34, although other types of outputs could be triggered, such asan output of data and other information. The engagement device 32 alsocan have other functions, such as outputting different information basedon a number of times the button is pressed or the length of time thebutton is pressed or powering on or off the dosimetry apparatus 10. Therequest for data through the interface 16 from another computing devicecan be for all or requested portions of the stored data. If in step 110,the dosimetry processing device 12 determines an output has not beenrequested, then the No branch is taken back to step 102 as describedearlier. If in step 110, the dosimetry processing device 12 determinesan output has been requested, then the Yes branch is taken to step 112.

In step 112, the dosimetry processing device 12 provides the requestedoutput, such as a display on one of the display device 34 or via arequest and response via the interface 16 and processed by dosimetryprocessing device 14, comprising at least a portion of one or more ofthe stored readings, the identified event, a determined injury riskassessment based on the conducted analysis, data relating to outputrequests, and/or any related data by way of example only, although theinformation could be output to other devices, other types and amounts ofinformation and other data could be provided and the information anddata can be obtained in other manners, such as through a connection withanother computing device interacting with the dosimetry processingdevice 12 via the interface 16. Next, this method can return back tostep 102 until the exemplary dosimetry apparatus 10 is turned off or thepower runs out

Accordingly, as illustrated and described with reference to the examplesherein this technology provides a more effective and efficient eventmonitoring dosimetry apparatus. With this technology, event data from anexplosion, blast, blow or other event can be captured and utilized toprovide real time information on obtained readings and/or conductedanalyses with or without location data. The technology can provide areal time assessment of risk injury to guide triage immediately postevent. The detailed event information can be used for post-eventanalysis to guide medical treatment. Additionally, this technology cancapture and provide event data that will help to provide a betterunderstanding the mechanisms of traumatic and other brain injuriesresulting from an explosion, blast, blow or other event.

Having thus described the basic concept of the invention, it will berather apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detaileddisclosure is intended to be presented by way of example only, and isnot limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications willoccur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expresslystated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications areintended to be suggested hereby, and are within the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Additionally, the recited order of processing elements orsequences, or the use of numbers, letters, or other designationstherefore, is not intended to limit the claimed processes to any orderexcept as may be specified in the claims. Accordingly, the invention islimited only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing a devicecomprising a housing having at least one sensor in an ambientenvironment, the at least one sensor being configured to derive aplurality of parametric signals from either a) acceleration readingsgenerated from movement of the person, or b) pressure readings generatedfrom perturbations propagating in the ambient environment, resultingfrom an identified event; providing personal medical history data of aperson that is wearing or carrying the device in the ambientenvironment, aggregate medical history data, and parametric data, whichparametric data corresponds to the plurality of parametric signals;tailoring and adjusting an individualized injury threshold for theperson based on the personal medical history data and the aggregatemedical history data; storing the tailored and adjusted individualizedinjury threshold prior to the identified event; providing in real timean injury risk assessment corresponding to the identified event bydetermining whether one or more of the plurality of parametric signalsexceeds the stored individualized injury threshold for the person;providing human perceivable indicia corresponding to the injury riskassessment data in response to a user assessment analysis request; andguiding medical treatment of the person when the stored individualizedinjury threshold is exceeded.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theplurality of parametric signals includes at least one accelerationsignal corresponding to a measured acceleration.
 3. The method of claim2, wherein the at least one acceleration signal provides three-axisacceleration data in real time.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the atleast one acceleration signal provides rotational acceleration data inreal time.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal medicalhistory data corresponds to personal medical history or injuriespreviously sustained by the person prior to the identified event.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the aggregate medical history data is basedon group medical history data or injury assessment data obtained fromother dosimetry devices over a period of time.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of providing human perceivable indicia includesproviding a probability that the person has sustained a predeterminedinjury based on the injury risk assessment data.
 8. The method of claim1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a gyroscope device.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a pressuresensor configured to measure air pressure based on perturbationspropagating in the ambient environment.
 10. The method of claim 9,wherein a control circuit is provided that is configured to compare themeasured air pressure with the individualized injury threshold stored inat least one memory device to derive the injury risk assessment.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes: a pressuresensor coupled to a control circuit, the pressure sensor beingconfigured to measure air pressure based on perturbations propagating inthe ambient environment; an inertial measurement sensor coupled to thecontrol circuit, the inertial measurement sensor being configured tomeasure an acceleration of the housing in real time; and wherein thecontrol circuit is configured to compare the measured air pressure andthe measured acceleration with the individualized injury thresholdstored in at least one memory device to derive the injury riskassessment.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing in realtime further comprises providing at least one memory device thatincludes a look-up table that obtains the injury risk assessment byrelating the personal medical history data, the aggregate medicalhistory data and the parametric data.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising providing a control circuit configured to update thepersonal medical history data based on the injury risk assessment. 14.The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parametric signalsinclude a date and a time stamp corresponding to an occurrence of theidentified event.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprisingproviding a power supply configured to provide electrical energy to thedevice from a non-stationary or portable power source.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the power source includes a battery device.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the battery device is rechargeable.
 18. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the power source includes a deviceconfigured to harvest energy from a renewable energy source.
 19. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a globalpositioning device (GPD) configured to provide GPD data corresponding toa location of the housing.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein thecontrol circuit is configured to estimate a location of the identifiedevent based on the GPD data and the parametric signals.
 21. The methodof claim 20, further comprising providing a transmitter portionconfigured to transmit the housing location, the identified eventlocation, and injury risk assessment to an external receiver.
 22. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising providing a transceiver coupled tothe control circuit, the transceiver being configured to provide injuryrisk assessment to an external receiver.
 23. The method of claim 22,wherein the transceiver is configured to receive data or instructionsfrom an external transmitter.
 24. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising providing a non-rechargeable or disposable battery whichpowers the device.
 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the device isdisposable after at least one I/O device has provided the injury riskassessment in response to at least one assessment analysis request.